Stopper for bottles.



No. 785,551. PATEN'I'ED MAR. 21, 1905.

E. HOERIOHS.

' STOPPER FOR BOTTLES.-

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5,1904.

- 2 SHEIBTS-SHEET 1.

zzizyazzim PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

5 E. HOBRICHS.

STOPPER FOR BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Java/z Z07 dwai'djlaer 6 6766 ENITED STATES Patented March 21., 1905.

PATENT, OFFICE.

EDWVARD HOERIOHS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO- THIRDS TOTHOMAS A. BRYAN AND CHARLES H. BOONE, OF BALTI- MORE, MARYLAND.

STOPPER FOR BOTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,551, dated March21, 1905.

Application filed July 5, 1904- Serial No. 215,343.

charge of the contents of the bottle or. the like in which the stopperis used will also prevent the refilling of said bottle or the like.

The invention further aims to provide a bottle-stopper with means toprevent the forming of a vacuum within the bottle during the operationof discharging the contents therefrom.

The invention further aims to construct a stopper for bottles, jugs,demijohns, or other liquid-containing vessels of the non-refillableclass, said stopper being simple in its construction, strong, durable,efficient in its use, preventing the formation of a vacuum within thevessel during the discharge of the contents therefrom, and comparativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morespecifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail referspective view of theresistance member. Fig. 3 1s a perspective view of the valved memberwith the valve removed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the strip ofmaterial which constitutes the outlet-valve and air-valve. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of a modified form of the valved member with the valveremoved. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the strip of material constitutingthe valves for the modified construction shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is aperspective View of another modified form of valved member, and Fig. 8is an elevation of the strip of material which constitutes the valvesshown in the modified construction shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is asectional elevation of a bottle, showing the adaptation of a modifiedform of stopper constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 10is a perspective view of the modified form of valved member, as shown inFig. 9, with the valve removed; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of thestrip of material which constitutes the outlet-valve and air-valve ofthe modified form of construction shown in Fig. 9.

In the drawings is shown the adaptation of a stopper constructed inaccordance with this invention as applied to a bottle; but, as beforestated, the stopper is adapted to be used in any liquid-containingvessel wherein said stopper is applicable.

The neck of the bottle is designated by the reference character 1 and isprovided at a point removed from the upper end thereof with an annularinternal groove 2, the function of which will be hereinafter referredto.

The reference character 3 denotes the body portion of the bottle.

The stopper comprises a resistance member and a valved stopper member.The resistance member is provided to prevent the entrance of anyimplement liable to tamper with tion through the medium of a pluralityof securing-pins 4, which are carried by said re contents when beingdischarged from the bottie. Formed integral with or secured to the core5 intermediate the disks 6 is a plurality of segment-shaped ofisets 8,which are suitably spaced apart, so as to form channels 9, said channels9 being out of alinement with the cut-away portion 7 of the disks 6. Thecore 5, as well as the offsets 8, is provided with recesses 10, whichterminate into each other at their ends, and at the inner ends of thesaid recesses 10 is arranged a piece of elastic material 11. Threeradially-extending recesses 10 are provided, and they are adapted toreceive the securing-pins 4. The resistance member is substantially ofthe same diameter as the inner diameter of the neck of the bottle; butthe pins 4 project from said member and are adapted to engage in thegroove to secure said member in position within the bottle-neck. Suchaction is obtained owing to the piece of elastic material, which whenthe member is inserted in the neck of the bottle will be compressed,owing to the fact that the pins are forced inwardly; but when the pinsreach the groove 2 they will be projected outwardly, owing to theexpansion of the elastic material, and engage in the groove 2,consequently retaining the resistance member in position. Owing to thearrangement of the cutaway portion 7 of the disk 6 with respect to thechannels 9, formed between the offsets 8', it is evident that animplement cannot be inserted past the resistance member, so as to tamperwith the valved member now to be referred to. The valved member, asshown in Fig. 1, consists of a hollow plug 12, carrying on its lower endan elastic washer 13, which when the valved member is inserted in thebottleneck is adapted to engage the inner face of the bottle-neck andfrictionally secure said valved member in position. The plug 1.2 has aportion thereof cut away upwardly and inwardly at an inclination to forma valve-seat 14, said seat 14 starting at a point removed from the lowerend of and extending to the upper end of the plug. The plug 12 is closedat its top, as indicated by the reference character 15; but said plug isopen at its bottom. At the lower end of that part of the plug 12 whichis cut away said plug 12 is formed with a groove 16, which receives abindingstrip 17 formed of elastic material, the function of which willbe hereinafter referred to.

Extending upwardly in the lower portion of the plug 12isasemicylindricalpartition 18, the partition 18 being of such length as to form the upperportion of the plug 12 with an outlet 19 to permit of the discharge ofthe. contents of the bottle. The partition 18 at its upper portion iscut away, so' as to conform to the cut-away portion of the plug 12, andis-provided near its upper end with an air-inlet 20, which communicateswith an airchannel 21, formed in said partition 18. The outlet 19 isclosed through the medium of a flap-valve 22, and the air-outlet 2Oclosed through the medium of a flap-valve 23. The valves 22 and 23 areconstructed from a single piece of 'material, and in this connection itwill be stated that the material consists of an elongated piece of micaor other suitable flexible material and which is placed against thevalve-seat 14 and extends at its lower end in the groove 16 and isconnected to the plug 12 through the medium of the binding-strip 17. Theflap-valve 23 is formed in the strip of material through the medium of aU-shaped slit 24, and the flap-valve 22 is weighted by the employment ofan additional strip of material or other suitable means, 25, which issecured to said valve 22. By weighting the valve 22 the same is'normallyretained in position to close the outlet 19. Extending into theair-channel 21 in the partition 18 is an airtube 26, which depends intothe body portion of the bottle. When the contents of the bottle arebeing discharged, and as the same passes through the plug 12, the valve22 'is caused to move away from its seat, carrying the valve 23therewith. hen the valve 23 is carried away from its seat, air issupplied to the body portion of the bottle through the medium of theair-inlet 20, channel 21, and air-tube 26, and consequently theformation of a vacuum within the bottle is prevented during theoperation of discharging the contents therefrom. When the bottle isbrought to an upright position, the valve 22 automatically resumes itsseat, owing to the fact that the upper portion of the piece of flexiblematerial is weighted, and such action of the valve 22 causes the valve23 to close the airinlet 20. If an attempt should be made to fill thebottle, it is evident the slightest pressure upon the outer face of thestrip of material which constitutes the valves 22 and 23 will cause thevalves to retain their normal position, which is closing the outlet 19and inlet 20.

The construction of valve member as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 issubstantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1, with the exception thatthe strip of flexible material is not provided with a slit to form asecond valve, but is provided with an opening 27, so that when the stripof material is moved away from the outlet-opening in the plug air willbe admitted through the opening 27 into the air-inlet and thence throughthe medium of the tube 26 into the body of the bottle, consequentlypreventing the formation of a vacuum.

The construction of valved member as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 issubstantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1, with the exception thatthe strip of material is slitted. at each side, near the lower endthereof, as at 28, forming what may be termed a valve 29 for theairinlet 20. At each side of the air-inlet grooves 30 are provided.These grooves enable the entrance of air to the inlet 20 if the sides ofthe valve 29 are moved away from the valve-seat.

The construction of valve member as shown in Figs. 9, l0, and 11consists of a hollow plug 31, in which is secured a partition 32, oneside of which is beveled, as at 33, forming a valveseat, to behereinafter referred to, and said partition has its lower portionsemicylindrical in contour. The lower portion of the partition 32 isprovided with an air-passage 34, in which extends an air-tube 35, andsaid partition is further provided with an air-outlet 36. The upperportion of the plug 31 is cutaway at one side to form a beveledvalve-seat 37. The partition 32 projects up into the plug 31, but notthe entire length thereof, thereby forming an outlet 38 for the contentsof the bottle. The contour of the cut-away portion 33 of the partition32 is the same as the valve seat 37. Extending within the recess(designated by the reference character 39) which is formed between thepartition 32 and the inner face of the plug 31 is a T-shaped strip offlexible material, preferably mica, and which constitutes anoutlet-valve 40, adapted to rest against the seat 37, and an air-inletvalve 41, which is adapted to find a seat against the cutaway portion 33of the partition. The valve 40 is adapted to close the outlet 38, andthe valve 41 is adapted to close the inlet 36. The strip of flexiblematerial is retained in position through the medium of atransverselyextending strip 42 of suitable material which extendsacrossthe plug 31, suitable openings 43 being provided for this purpose.The plug 31 is cut away at its lower portion opposite to the cut-awayportion at its upper end, as at 44, said cut-away portion forming apassage for the outgoing contents of the bottle and which communicateswith the passage 45, formed in the upper part of the plug 31, throughthe medium of the upper portion of the partition 32. The passage 45communicates with the outlet 38. The operation is such that when thecontents of the bottle are to be discharged they force the valve '40from the outlet 38, at the same time moving the valve 41 so that airwill be admitted to the air-tube 35, or, in other words, the strip ofmaterial which constitutes the valves 40 and 41 is moved bodily awayfrom the partition sufficiently to allow the contents of the bottle tobe discharged through the outlet 38 and the entrance of air into thepassage 34. In

the structure shown in Fig. 9 the resistance member is of the sameconstruction as that shown in Fig. 1, the same reference charactersbeing applied thereto.

It is thought the many advantages of a come properly within the scope ofthe protection prayed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A stopper involving a hollow plug provided with an outlet for thecontents of a vesseland an inlet for supplying air to the body of thevessel, and a strip of flexible material secured to said plug andadapted to normally close said outlet and inlet.

2. A stopper involving a hollow plug closed at its top and open at itsbottom and provided with an outlet for the contents of a vessel and withan inlet for supplying air to the interior of the vessel, and a strip offlexible material suitably secured to said stopper and adapted tonormally close said outlet and said inlet.

3. A stopper involving a hollow plug provided with an outlet for thecontents of a vessel and an inlet for supplying air to the interior ofthe vessel, and a strip of suitable material secured to said plug andadapted to nor mally close said outlet and inlet.

4. A stopper involving a hollow plug having a cut-away portion andprovided with a partition having an air-inlet adapted to communicatewith the interior of a vessel, said partition closing a part of saidcut-away portion and forming in said plug an outlet for the contents ofa vessel, and a strip of material secured to the plug and adapted tosimultaneously close said outlet and inlet.

5. A stopper involvinga hollow plug having a cut-away portion andprovided with a partition having an air-inlet adapted to communicatewith the interior of a vessel, said partition closing a part of saidcut-away portion and forming in said plug an outlet for the contents ofa vessel, and a strip of material having its lower end secured to saidplug and constituting a valve for closing said outlet and a valve forclosing said inlet.

6. A stopper involving a resistance member and a'member having an outletand an inlet, and a strip of material secured to said lastmentionedmember and constituting a valve for normally closing said outlet and avalve for normally closing said inlet.

7 -A stopper for vessels involvinga hollow plug closed at its top andopen at its bottom and having a portion cut away at an inclination, saidcut-away portion extending from a point removed from the lower end ofsaid plug to the top thereof, a partition secured in said plug andhaving the upper portion cut away to conform to the cut-away portion ofsaid plug, said partition forming said plug with an outlet for thecontents of a vessel, said partition provided with an air-inlet and anairchannel, and a strip of suitable material secured to said plug andconstituting a valve for closing said outlet and inlet.

8. Astopper for vessels involving a hollow plug closed at its top andopen at its bottom and having a portion cut away at an inclination, saidcut-away portion extending from a point removed from the lower end ofsaid plug to the top thereof, a partition secured in said plug andhaving the upper portion cut away to conform to the cut-away portion ofsaid plug, said partition forming said plug with an outlet for thecontents of a vessel, said partition provided with an air-inlet and anair-channel, and a strip of material having a weighted upper end and aslitted lower portion, said weighted upper end constituting the valvefor closing said outlet and said slitted lower portion constituting avalve for closing said inlet.

9. A stopper for vessels comprising the combination with a resistancemember adapted to be mounted in the neck of a vessel, of a plug securedwithin the neck of the vessel and having one side cut away, said plugprovided in its cut-away side with an outlet for the contents of thevessel and an air-inlet for supplying air to the interior of the vessel,an airtube connected to said plug and communicating with said inlet anda strip of flexible material secured to said plug and constituting avalve for closing said outlet and a valve for closing said inlet.

10. A stopper involving a hollow plug closed at its top and open at itsbottom and provided with an outlet for the contents of a vessel and withan inlet for supplying air to the interior of the vessel, and a T-shaped strip of flexible material suitably connected to said stopper andadapted to normally close said outlet and said inlet.

11. Astopper involving a plug closed at its top and open at its bottomand provided with an outlet for the contents of a vessel, a partitionextending upwardly into said plug and provided with an inlet forsupplying air to the interior of the vessel, and a Tshaped strip ofmaterial bearing against said plug and said partition and adapted tonormally close said outlet and said inlet. v

12. A stopperinvolving a hollow plug provided with an outlet forthecontents of avessel and an inlet for supplying air to the interior ofthe vessel, and a T-shaped strip of suitable material secured to saidplug and adapted to. normally close said outlet and inlet.

13. A stopper involving a hollow plug having a cut-away portion andprovided with a partition having an air-inlet adapted to communicatewith the interior of a vessel, said partition closing a part of saideutaway portion and forming in said plug, an outlet for the contents ofthe said vessel, and a strip of material secured within said plug andconstituting a valve for closing said outlet and a valve for closingsaid inlet.

14. A stopper involving a hollow plug having a cut-away portion andprovided with a partition having an air-inlet adapted to communicatewith the interior of a vessel, said partition closing a part of saidcut-away portion and forming in said plug, an outlet for the contents ofthe said vessel, and a T-shapod strip of material secured within saidplug and constituting a valve for closing said outlet and a valve forclosing said inlet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDiVARD HOERICHS.

Witnesses:

N. LOUIS BoeAN, Geo. WV. REA.

